Weekday Blues: The Blue Plate Specials At Racks...

Can't get over the slow weekday blues? Spice it up with a flavorful Blue Plate Special at Racks...

Kick out the notorious weekday blues with a sumptuous lunch at Racks with their Blue Plate Specials. A comforting meal at Racks always does the trick, and the Blue Plate Specials are just what you need for a flavorful punch to get over the dreaded weekend blues...

Flavors of Ilocos: Breakfast at Hotel Luna's Comedor

The kitchens at Hotel Luna's Comedor are fired up for the day's breakfast service way before dawn, and the aroma of coffee, baked bread, and other dishes draws you in... 

...nothing like a good, comforting and hearty breakfast to start the day. At Hotel Luna's Comedor, the buffet set-up lets you sample a variety of dishes, featuring continental as well as local Ilocano flavors. The menu changes daily depending on what's fresh and available on the market, adding variety to the regular dishes. Pick a spot, grab a plate, and load up...

A Boodle Feast at Vitalis Resort and Spa

The skies were grey once more, as the monsoon season comes early this year. But I was determined to get some sun, sea, and sand, and a real boodle feast, during my stay at Vigan. And you can, at Vitalis Resort and Spa.

Owned and managed by the same group behind Vigan's elegant Hotel Luna, you can expect the same high level of service and lavish accommodations at Vitalis Resort and Spa. A leisurely hour and a half drive from Hotel Luna, Vitalis Resort and Spa is your gateway to fun in the sun up north...

Flavors of Ilocos: Dinner at Hotel Luna's Comedor

My very first day at Hotel Luna, and I was impressed. The elegant accommodations, the impressive art collection, and an equally impressive menu at Hotel Luna's Comedor. I had to go through the menu one more time, with so many choices, and I still couldn't decide. Melvin, Comedor's friendly server, recommended I go for the bestsellers. Why not, sounds like a great idea. And Melvin took care of the rest...  

With Chef Robby Goco as supervising chef and consultant, one can expect a great meal to complete your experience at Hotel Luna. Melvin runs through the recommended dishes, and Chef Raymond Quitilen fires up the kitchen...

An Early Morning Stroll at Historic Calle Crisologo

The sound of church bells and an occasional rooster crowing signals the start of a sunny Sunday morning, and one by one, the stores lining the historic Calle Crisologo open up for the day's business.The moment you step on the famed cobblestone street of Calle Crisologo, you are transported back in time, back to 18th century Vigan.  

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Vigan's historic district offers a unique experience and a glimpse of 18th century life during Spanish colonial times. 

Side Views: Up Close with The Mandolin Player at Hotel Luna

Art and history blend in an elegant fusion in one of the country's unique and distinct hotels. Located at the heart of the historic heritage district of Vigan, it is a landmark in itself. And there's more. An impressive art collection awaits guests at Vigan's Hotel Luna, the first museum hotel in the country.

Inspired by national artist Juan Luna, Hotel Luna continues the artist's passion with a stunning and extensive collection of art. At Hotel Luna, you can experience the vast art collection up close, proudly displayed at the hotel's museum, and at every corner and wall of the hotel for a truly memorable stay in Vigan (for more on the elegant Hotel Luna, see my previous post here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2014/08/side-views-elegant-fusion-of-history.html).

Side Views: An Elegant Fusion of History and Art at Vigan's Hotel Luna

History and art combine in one of the most elegant structures in historic Vigan. An attraction in itself, and a majestic gateway to the rich cultural heritage of one the best preserved Hispanic districts in the country. When visiting Vigan, complete your experience with a stay at the stately and refined Hotel Luna, the first museum hotel in the country. There's no better place to stay in Vigan than at the elegant Hotel Luna... 

Hotel Luna is located in the central district of historic Vigan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, right beside the famed cobblestone street of Calle Crisologo. Built on the original two-storey structure of Don Jose Florentino's ancestral home completed back in 1882, Hotel Luna is an elegant blend of old and new, masterfully preserved in a fusion of European and Oriental architecture. 

Side Views: Flight PR 2196 to Laoag

All the clouds were grey that late Saturday morning, but the flight from Manila to Laoag remained set. PAL Flight PR 2196 to Laoag was going to be on schedule...

...and the first leg of my trip up North proceeded without any hitch, despite the midday rains that seemed to get stronger every minute. Passing through isolated pockets of turbulence, the flight aboard PAL's Airbus A320 was generally smooth enough for a light nap. And in less than an hour...

Leaving Pico de Loro

All too soon, my escape to Pico de Loro comes to an end. But not before another comforting lunch by Chef Jayme at Pico Restaurant and Bar...

One last time to savor the ocean breeze and the wide range of comforting flavors at Pico de Loro before the drive home.

Exploring Pico de Loro's Coves

When we arrived at Pico de Loro the day before, grey skies and a lingering afternoon drizzle almost placed a scheduled tour of the coastline in jeopardy. But not today. The morning greeted us with a magnificent blue sky, and it was time to explore the private coves along Hamilo Coast. 

A calm breeze and the sun at its peak, it's just another perfect day at Pico de Loro...

Breakfast at Pico de Loro

There's just something about early mornings, and the sound of birds and the view of a tranquil lagoon just completes the picture. 

Time for breakfast at Pico Restaurant and Bar...

A Cold Beer by the Beach and Dinner at Pico de Loro's Sun Coral Cafe

With the fading afternoon light and the rhythmic sound of the cove's gentle surf, ending your day at the beach is the way to go at Pico de Loro. 

After touring the facilities at Pico de Loro, it was time to sample the local cuisine offered by the resort's Sun Coral Cafe at the Pico de Loro Beach Club.

Lunch at Pico de Loro's Pico Restaurant and Bar

Any great escape from the metro needs good food. And at Pico de Loro's Pico Restaurant and Bar, you get that and more. 

Located at the lobby level of the Pico Sands Hotel, Pico Restaurant and Bar specializes in Mediterranean cuisine, as well as local Filipino dishes (For more on Pico de Loro, check out my previous post here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2014/03/escape-to-pico-de-loro.html). After checking in at the Pico Sands Hotel, it was time to check out Pico Restaurant and Bar...

Escape to Pico de Loro

Summer's here, time for some sun and sand, time to hit the beach. And just an hour and a half's drive south of the metro, Pico de Loro is quickly emerging as the country's premier sustainable beach resort destination. 

Dubbed as the "Philippine Riviera", Hamilo Coast is located at the southwestern tip of Luzon, roughly a 90 minute drive from the metro via the new CAVITEX Expressway. Within the sprawling seaside sanctuary lies Pico de Loro, the maiden residential community of Hamilo Coast. The massive 5,800 hectare property includes forests, mountains, 13 picturesque coves and 25 kilometers of coastline, just the place for that perfect escape from the city.

Midas Hotel & Casino: Something New at Every Turn

A once familiar landmark transformed, offering something new at every turn...

The iconic landmark is given new life in a perfect synthesis of the old and new, and Midas Hotel & Casino promises to surprise you with something new at every turn.

Sunset at Manila Hotel

Everyday, the Manila Bay stages a spectacular light show. And there's no better vantage point than the Manila Hotel...

A refreshing beverage, a beautiful sunset seen from Manila Hotel's view deck...just can't get better than that. (Visited the Grand Dame lately? For more on the historic Manila Hotel, check out my previous post here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2014/02/experience-history-at-manila-hotel.html).

The Manila Hotel's MacArthur Suite

Perhaps no other suite in the legendary Manila Hotel can rival the history and elegance of the MacArthur Suite. Home to General Douglas MacArthur and his family during the Commonwealth era up to the outbreak of the second world war, the MacArthur Suite is a piece of history lovingly preserved at the Manila Hotel. 

The refurbished suite includes a master bedroom with dressing room, a guest room, two baths and one powder room, a study room, a formal dining room overlooking the bay, a fully-equipped kitchen and a balcony. Definitely a place for a five-star general (for more on the Manila Hotel, check out my previous post here at http://dude4food.blogspot.com/2014/02/experience-history-at-manila-hotel.html).

Experience History at the Manila Hotel

Ernest Hemingway once said "it's a good story if it's like Manila Hotel." And the Grand Dame has countless stories to tell from its glorious past, with even more stories still to unfold... 

There is probably no other structure in old Manila that can equal the heritage and old world elegance of the Manila Hotel. And for over a hundred years, the Grand Dame continues to fascinate and inspire with its rich history for an experience unique to Manila Hotel.

Side Views: Davao's Pamulak Kadayawan

The last day of Davao's annual month-long Kadayawan festivities, the Pamulak Kadayawan is a floral  parade along Davao City's streets, featuring some of the most elaborate floral floats from the different communities, civic organizations and corporate sectors of the city.

And with The Marco Polo's VIP Stage located near the hotel's entrance, you get the best seats in the house.

Flavors of Davao: Bluegre Coffee, Davao's Best

Since 1998, Bluegre Coffee has been at the forefront of Davao's unique coffee culture, with their own distinct signature blends. In fact, if you want a taste of Davao in a cup, Bluegre Coffee is the place. Where else can you find a unique durian blended cappuccino, only at Bluegre coffee. 

You read it right. Durian Coffee. Bluegre Coffee's claim to fame is its unique Durian Cappuccino, called the Durian Gatchpuccino, giving Bluegre Coffee a unique homegrown vibe and local flavor. And a distinct taste of Davao.